Undergarment for men and women



Nov. 10; 1931. M. D. NEILSON 1,831,131

UNDERGARMENT FOR MEN AND WOMEN Filed July 14. 1950 \minmL-j #Mllllllllllli Invenfor: Mar- D. Neilson,

/ K'l'i'orneqs Patented Nov. 10, 1931 Unrransrarss PATENT foFFicE MARY n. NEILSON, or MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA UNDERGARMENT FOR ND WOMEN Application filed July 14, 1930. Serial No. 467,818.

either through the full length of it or through the length of the legs or part of the legs, strips of elastic material such as knitted ma terial cut across the ribsso that said material is free to yield along the longitudinal length of the strip but is unyielding in transverse direction. Such strips also in order to get the full benefits of my invention should be applied to the inside of the legs; and the fabric comprising the rest of the garment-,-in practice, elastic fabric or if desirable ordinary woven textile fabric, will be gathered together at the points of maximum strain as at the knees and hips, this gathering occurring after the strip has been sewed into the gar- 5 ment in a stretched condition at that point.

The full objects and advantages of my invention will appear in connection with the detailed description thereof, and the novel features are hereinafter particularly pointed out in the claim. In the drawings, Fig. 1 illustrates a 'manikin womans figure with a garment embodying my invention in position upon the form of the figure. Fig. 2 is a manikin mans figure with the garment in position on the form of the figure and one leg lifted showing the manner in which strains are aecommodated. Fig. 8 illustrates a form bent at the hips showing the garment of my invention under hip strain as in diving. Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the manner of gathering the material from stretching the inserted strip before sewing it to the edge of said material.

I am aware that it has heretofore been proposed to insert elastic material along the sides of the leg or the sides of agarment such as herein described, but all such proposals have involved the insertion of elastic material with the warp or ribs running in the longitudinal length of the stripso that it is elastic transversely of the strip but unyielding along the longitudinal length of the strip. I have discovered that such a use of strips of elastic material is inefiective to produce the form-fitting and comfort which result from the insertion-of elastic material in accordance with my invention. I have also discovered that the elasticity across, the strip if it yields will have the effect of pulling or wrinkling the garment longitudinally and will preventinstead of aid a form fitting effect, whereas elasticity in accordance. with my invention along the length of thestrip permits yielding'in the proper way to effect close form fitting relaticns;

As shown in Fig. 1, the union undergarment'for women is provided with a back 10 and a front 11 ofany desired material, preferably, however, elastic material such as knitted goods wherein the ribs will run longi tudinally of the garment, so that the garment is free to yield transversely. Strips 12 of material are inserted along the sides of the garment between the back 10 and the front 11, these strips being of elastic material such as knitted goods wherein the elasticity or stretching capacity extends in one direction only. The strips 12 are inserted so that the ribs (if of knitted material) extend directly across the length of the strips. If not of knitted material, the strips are out so that the stretching capacity is along the length of the material. Similai strips 13 are inserted in the insides of the legs. The strips will preferably not be of the same width throughout their length but as clearly indicated at 14, 15 and 16 may be widened at places where thereis body fullness for giving better fitting qualities and to meet maximum strains, as at the busts, the hips and the knees, and, in practice, will be narrowed toward the bot tom of the legs as indicated at 17. In sewing the strips in the garment, certain portions as indicated at 18, 19 and 20 will be sewed into the garment with the stretch of the elastic material the same on both edges,

but at the points of fullness as 14, 15 and 16 shown by the shaded lines, the edge portions 21 are unstretched While the edge portions 22 will be stretched to conform to the fullness at that part of the garment. This is to provide for easy and comfortable bending of the limbs and of the body in running and stooping.

When the body is erect, the extra length along the edges 22 will lie in an easy fullness held in place by the Webbed or elastic strip, but when the limbs and body are bent as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, the portions 22 which are fulled in the erect position will be extended to conform in length to the bent position, and the portions 21 will be slightly gathered, all permitting'the garment to conform to the bent limbs and body Without pull or strain and Without the effect of distortion of the garment resulting in permanent bag- 'ing. This construction is especially Well adapted for use in womens form-fitting union suits as in Fig. 1, in mens three-quarter or full length union suits to give freedom of movement at the hip and at the knee, in the trunk form of undergarment for either men or Women, and in bathing suits; and the construction can be used to advantage for any form-fitting garment for men, Women or children.

I claim:

An undergarment comprising strips of fabric inserted longitudinally along the sides'of the garment, said strips being elastic along their length and inelastic across their length, said strips being widened and the garment and strips being fulled along a joining edge at points of maximum strain.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

v MARY D. NEILSON. 

